Thank you for continuing to follow my posts regarding one of my great passions – that being educating the world about proper, balanced hand, wrist and elbow training and exercise.

Most people are still completely misunderstanding the need for balanced finger, thumb and hand muscles in relation to a stable hand, wrist, carpal tunnel and elbow. The popularity of the modern study of kinetic chain principles makes me believe strongly that the public is now ready to truly consider the vast importance of balanced finger, thumb and hand muscles. I especially focus on the importance (and thus the dismissal historically) of the finger extensor muscles and the finger abductor muscles. These are key finger stabilizers that affect the stability of the entire hand, wrist, carpal tunnel and elbow area. The fact that they have been ignored historically for so long I believe is the basis of existence of rampant chronic RSIs in hand, wrist and elbow conditions today. The fact also that the baby boomer population is now aging is clearly showing the negative outcomes of the ignorance of proper hand muscle training.

I am now beginning to endeavor to spell out the basics of finger, thumb, hand, wrist and elbow anatomy in an effort to educate the public about this key area that will undoubtedly affect every citizen whether they are involved in sports, music, workplace gripping or simply hobby or gaming or computers or texting. The information to follow is based on the insights I have gained over the past 20 years in relation to treating athletes, musicians, workers and hobbyists for various hand, wrist, carpal tunnel and elbow conditions, as well as participating personally as an athlete in college-level sports of basketball and hockey, participating in the professional level as a professional golfer, and in the process of the development of my hand exercise solution, Handmaster Plus.

I invite you to follow along as I begin to post each section as follows:

Balanced Finger, Thumb & Hand Exercise Relating to Grip Strength, Performance & Hand, Wrist, Carpal Tunnel, Elbow Injuries

-The Development of Handmaster Plus

Part A - Introduction
Part 1 Understanding the Hand Closing Muscles
    a) the flexor muscles (intrinsic & extrinsic)
    b) the adductor muscles
Part 2 Understanding the Hand Opening Muscles
    a) the extensor muscles (intrinsic and extrinsic)
    b) the abductor muscles
Part 3 The Relationship Between the Hand Closing and Opening Muscles
Part 3a Key Related Anatomy (Fascia, Synovial Sheaths, Joint Cartilage)
Part 4 The Median Nerve and Its Path
Part 5 The Ulnar Nerve and Its Path
Part 6 The Radial Nerve and Its Path
Part 7 Hand Finger and Thumb Exercises
Part 8 Hand, Wrist, Forearm and Elbow Exercises
Part 9 Hand Exercise and Peripheral Nerve Stimulation
Part 10 Hand Exercise, Blood Flow & Lymph Drainage
Part 11 Conditions Related to Repetitive Gripping, RSI & Hand Muscle Imbalance
    a) Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
    b) Tennis Elbow
    c) Golfers Elbow
    d) DeQuervain’s Tenosynovitis
    e) Extensor Tendinitis of the Wrist
    f) Dupuytren's Contracture
    g) Arthritis
Part 12 Rehabilitation of Hand, Wrist, Carpal Tunnel & Elbow Conditions
Part 13 Balanced Hand Exercise in Sports
Part 14 Balanced Hand Exercise in Music
Part 15 Balanced Hand Exercise in Workplace Ergonomics
Part 16 The Need for Understanding ‘Cause’ in Upper Extremity Conditions and General Health

Thank you for your interest in balanced hand, wrist & elbow exercise and training. I look forward to putting this information together in a concise & easy to understand format that may engage all readers to challenge their beliefs about traditional hand exercise and finger/thumb muscle balance and its relation to hand, wrist, carpal tunnel & elbow injury.

Best,

Dr. Terry Zachary